Cloud Chatter March 2015

1. District Governor’s
Official Visit
Issue 9
March 2015
Cloud
Chatter
President Kanthan Pillay and the
board of the E-Club welcomed
DG Annie and her husband Hennie
on 11 March at the YFM Studios in
Hyde Park.
Board members, Rotarians Dr Sarah
Britten, Dr Mashadi Motlana and
Valentin Micic and some who could
not attend in person were seen on
screen! We are sorry that Leon had
’load-shedding’ in Nelspruit about 15
minutes after our meeting started.
The projects, finances (which are in
order) and many other club areas were discussed with DG Annie.
Left: President Kanthan is seen
reading the Object of Rotary with
DG Annie watching.
It was a pleasure to welcome PDG
Ernie Hendriks into the club as
our 41st member.
Ernie, who is also serving as a
DGR till the end of June has been
a loyal and dedicated Rotarian
for many years and he comes with
a vast number of years of
experience.
Welcome Ernie and PDGA Shirley — his wife.

2. President Kanthan proudly announced
that our club achieved the Presidential
Citation. Congratulations to all the
members who contributed towards this
achievement!
We were hoping
to officially in-
duct the Rota-
ract club during
the DG’s visit
but
unfortunately,
the Rotaract
club members
that were due to
be inducted were
urgently called to do a shoot in the
studio! But, we were lucky to have
Rori (who was inducted as the
Charter Rotaract President the
following week) attend.
However, DG Annie agreed to
officially welcome the three proposed
members during the official visit and
the Rotaract manual and the Chain of
Office was shown.
President
Kanthan
and Andile
President Kanthan,
Andile, DG Annie and
Rori
Above: President Kanthan
addressing the meeting
Below: The paparazzi at
work - Win Bauer,
Annemarie and Hennie …
as PDG Ernie, PDGA
Shirley and
Rtn Sarah look on.

3. Left: District 9400’s Rotaract
Representative Talitha Carney,
congratulating Rori after being inducted as
the charter Rotaract President
18 March 2015
Proud moment as 12 members have been
inducted tonight as part of the charter
members of YFM Rotaract Club with
President Rorisang Madonko elected as the
first President.
The newly inducted Charter Rotaract Members seen with D9400’s Rotaract
Representative Talitha holding the Rotaract Manual; President Kanthan;
PE Annemarie Mostert (both sitting in the front) and Rotarian and
Rotaract Chairperson (D9400) (on right in the blue shirt) seen with the
new President Rori and the YFM youth.
Congratulations everyone and all the best with your new club and
projects.

4. Collage of the
members receiving
their Rotaract
membership pins —
presented by
President Rori
Thanks to Talitha and Damian for being
present at the launch of the
newest Rotaract club in D9400.
It was super having you there!

5. The members of the eClub of
Southern Africa D9400 wish all
the Rotaract members a great
year ahead — enjoy the
projects and fellowship.

6. Photographer Mervin
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
ON MEDIA PLACEMENTS
Rotary International’s Secretary, John Hewko
reported that Rotary received extensive media
coverage throughout 2014, with more than 375 news
organizations in 20 countries featuring our
humanitarian efforts. Of those, roughly 50 stories
appeared in top tier international news
organizations, including seven out of the 10 most
influential ranked by Forbes, such as the Associated
Press, BBC, CNN, Reuters, The Washington
Post, TIME and Wall Street Journal.
Highlights include:
TIME Magazine – Rotary’s National PolioPlus
Chair for Pakistan, Aziz Memon, was quoted. The
story also called Rotary “the point-organization for
the eradication of polio for more than 25 years.
Newsweek – Rotary’s National PolioPlus
Committee Chair for Pakistan Aziz Memon was
quoted in the story, which offers an in-depth look at
the history and current status of the polio program.
NPR (National Public Radio) – Rotary’s
Director of PolioPlus, Carol Pandak was quoted. The
article explores how well established polio
eradication programs prepared Nigeria to fight
Ebola.
PDG Shirley Downie was honoured to be a trainer in Evanston, Chicago for 8 days in March. Seen with Shirley
ae fellow trainers and moderators .
Left-right” Vanay (Ass moderator); PRIDs Barry and Stephanie (Moderators); Henrique; Gayle, Shirley
Back: Venky (tall trainer) Mark; Brenda and PRID Tom (Ass Moderator)

7. March is Literacy month
The Rotary Humanitarian Centre has received seven
containers filled with books since October 2014.
On average 41000 books are collected from the centre
monthly and the centre continues to grow it’s base of
beneficiaries.
Dr Madam Bongi Ngema-Zuma was inducted as a
honorary member of our club at Discon in June 2014
in Polokwane.
Madam Bongi requested books for her KZN school
project and 100s of books were
packed by the centre volunteers
on her behalf. The books selected
were for grades 1-7. These should
be handed over to the school by
her soon.
Please find a school, church or old
age home that is needing books —
the centre gives them away free.
All you have to do is take a
letterhead introducing yourself
and mention you are collecting for...and bring your
own packing boxes!
April is Magazine month
The Southern African
magazine is Rotary
Africa…. Please submit
good quality photos to
them with a short story.
rotaryafrica@mweb.co.za
Liana van der Walt sent these
photos of Wendy
houses that were built with a
donation of R26 742.05 from
Vlaasndere for
Filadelphia Arc. Thanks to
Vlaasndere — much
appreciated.

8. It is now official!!!
DGDN Jankees Sligcher (RC of
Johannesburg New Dawn) has
been appointed for the 2017/2018
Rotary Year. His wife Judy, will
be the Rotary Ann Governor in the
same period. She will also be
inducted as a Rotarian in July.
PDG Shirley has been asked to be
his Special Aide and Discon
Chairperson….and PDGA/Rtn and
PP Sylvia Knoop (RC
Benoni Aurora) has been invited
to be Judy’s Special Aide.
Providing access to healthcare in Africa
(posted by Rotary International on 6 March 2015)
Based in Johannesburg, Sue Paget is one of the driving forces behind the
Rotary Family Health Days in South Africa. She has been married to Trevor
for 34 years and has three children. This is the last in a series of blog posts
leading up to International Women’s Day 8 March.
“Africa is a harsh reality – we see, hear, and live with suffering on a daily
basis, most especially in our disadvantaged communities. And yet the people
still shine through.
This is why being involved with Rotary Family Health Days has been so
rewarding. It has been incredibly gratifying to know that collectively we have
been able to help over 120,000 people in two years access free health
services and screenings.
It all started in 2000 when I was contracted by Rotary International to work in
South Africa on the Polio Eradication Private Sector Campaign. Later I was
invited to join the Rotary Club of Johannesburg in 2002 as a volunteer and
over the years worked on various campaigns.
During this time, I was introduced to Rotarians for Family Health & Aids
Prevention (RFHA) based in Atlanta, Georgia. Their CEO Marion Bunch
appeared as a guest speaker at the Rotary Africa Centennial celebrations conference. I was immediately struck by
her total dedication to making a difference in this world in the name of her son Jerry. In 2012, on a visit to
Johannesburg, Marion and I connected again and she told me about the Rotary Family Health Days program. She
was looking for a program manager in South Africa and that was how it all began again for me!
As the program director for South Africa, now expanded to Africa, it has been my responsibility to coordinate,
develop, activate, execute, and monitor all plans around communications, media, training, and the roll-out of the
health days. I facilitate and coordinate all partners.
My days are filled with meetings, challenging decisions, and dogged determination to push the ball up the
sometimes slippery slope! I have been known to get very little sleep particularly close to the campaign roll-out!
After each event, I feel a great sense of achievement tinged with relief.
We have two Rotary Family Health Days under our belt, with the next one planned for October 2015. If you want to
make a difference, consider joining us. Our ambition is to reach 75,000 people in South Africa in 2015 and 2
million people globally by 2020. So we need all the helping hands we can get!

9. School Essay Competition - Invite as many schools as possible.
We invite students to enter the Rotary E-CLUB of
Southern. The title of the Essay is ‘The Gift of Light’.
We encourage students to be creative when giving
their version of this topic.
PRIZES!!!! We have wonderful prizes…. Sponsored
by Sesego Cares — which we appreciate whole
heartedly!
Visit our website at http://rotaryeclubsa9400.org/
for the entry form and for more details in respect of the prize monies.
Criteria
• Criteria for participants is that applicants must be school going youth.
• Submissions should be in English. The name of entrants should be the same as those that appear
on the identification document (ID) or passport.
 The winners must be prepared to be interviewed by the media.
 Essays must be posted online and all info needs to be completed: name, age, class, school,
phone number and essay title. Entries missing any of the above information will not be consid-
ered.
• Essays must be original and unpublished.
• Entries must be unaided submission (in terms of others doing the work etc)
• Essays must be written by one person. Co-authored essays are not accepted.
 One entry per learner.
Members: Please invite as many schools—no matter where - to participate! We look forward
to receiving the entries soon!
 Maximum number of words: 10-12 years old 1200 words
 13-16 years old 1500 words
 17-19 years old 2000 words
 Without the parents’ signature of approval, the essay will not be posted on the website.
 The entry form must be completed and posted online.
 Entries will be categorised according to age: 10 – 12 years, 13 – 16 years and 17 – above
 Entries will receive a reference number.
If you have any queries, please contact Shirley Downie: Shirley@phomella.co.za.